Step 6: Seat 3

A few years ago I bought this fold up bike at a local army surplus store and it was ok for a while. Later, I thought I'd turn it into a recumbent bike. I was researching them on the web and became really enthusiactic. It took me a month or so to conceive and build. In the end though, I trashed it because it was too small for my body frame anf the gearing on the bike was too low. I thought you guys might like to see it and get some inspiration. I'll be building a new one soon. Let's call this one a learning prototype.

Step 1: Added Fork and Crank

Hey, that's pretty cool, I am planning to make a recumbent with my own design but your design will defiantly help with it, thanks. Any tips???

Looks great.
I have a folding Dahon Boardwalk with 20" wheels that I have been trying to figure out how to non-destructively make into a recumbent folder.I was thinking if I did it as a Front wheel drive bike it would probably still be able to fold without any chain removal.

can you tell me how to make the seat?PWEESE?(im making one of my own,but need a seat...<sup>-</sup>)<br/>

Using a folding bike as a donor for a recumbent- genius! Why did I pass by those folding bikes in the discount shop after christmas with nary a second glance?
Also, it looks like the BB up front has two single tubes coming from it- I thought the chainstays (ie bottom back "fork") started right at the bottom bracket? Does it just depend on the frame you take it from? Anyway, this looks pretty slick- how does it ride? The seat-handlebar distance looks quite small so I guess it might not be the most relaxing bike to cruise on.

Yeah, each frame is different and you have to engineer it as it is. I've learned a lot from this project and will approach it differently next time.

Cool! How hard are they to ride?

This one was hard at first and overall not a great ride. The next one will be bigger and longer with better gearing.